Handle for paint brushes and the like



Dec. 1, 1959 c. P. ELA

HANDLE FOR PAINT BRUSHES AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 7, 1955 lU tcd States Patent 2,914,785 HANDLE FOR PAINT BRUSHES AND THE LIKE Chipman P. Ela, Somerville, Mass. 1 Application October 7, 1955, Serial No. 539,099

6 Claims. c1. 15-143 .Thisinvention relates to a handle for a paint brush or other article that removes a material from, or applies it to, a surface by a brushing action.

One objectof my invention is to provide such a handle with comfortable hand gripping means so that fatigue from the brushing action will be avoided or materially reduced.

Another object is to provide such a handle which leaves the fingers free, even though supporting the brush with them, so as the user climbs a ladder he can grasp a rung or side with said fingers.

Still another object is to provide such a handle so formed that it can be held by different, but firm grips,

thus enabling the user to rest his hand if desired.

A further object is to provide such a handle that is relatively inexpensive, to manufacture and can readily be connected to the brush part used with it.

The foregoing and other objects which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, may be accomplished by an arrangement such as disclosed by the drawing. The nature of the invention is such as to render it susceptible to various changes and modifications, and therefore, I am not to be limited to the construction disclosed by the drawing nor to the particular parts described in the specification; but am entitled to all such changes form of handle.

As illustrated, my handle may be made of wood, plastic, rubber composition or other suitable material. At the front is an attaching portion 12 to which the usual holding sheath S is fixed and in which the usual bristles B, or other brushing medium, are set.

' Rearwardly of said attaching portion 12, said body has a hole 14 to receive 'a persons index finger, another hole 15, to receive the second or longest finger, is below said hole 14 and extends slightly rearward thereof, and another hole 16, to receive the third or ring finger, is below hole 15 and rearwardly thereof. Said holes 14, 15 and 16 extend through said body and for the ordinary hand, some portions of said holes 15 and 16 should be directly below said hole 14, and should extend somewhat rearwardly thereof. In use a persons fingers extend through and beyond said holes, hence are available for gripping action or the like.

Rearwardly opposite a portion of said hole 16 is a recessed finger portion 17 on which the little finger may rest. Rearwardly of said holes 14, 15 and 16, is a gr1pping portion 18 which extends to and forms part of the rear extremity portion 19 of said handle against which rests part of the palm of the hand commencing near the base of the thumb. Above and extending rearwardly of said gripping portion 18 is a rear extension portion 20 that has a slot therein to receive a scraper blade 22 when 2,914,785 Patented Dec. 1, 1959 one is desired. A hole 24 through said extension portion 20 permits my handle to be hung on a pin or the like. The fingers may grasp said rear extension portion 20 to thus use my handle in the ordinary way.

Between said front attaching portion 12 and said rear extension portion 20 is a recessed portion 26-that serves as a thumb rest, rearwardly of said index finger hole 14. Also between said gripping portion 18 and rear extension portion 24? is a recessed portion 27 to receive the part of the hand between the thumb and index finger.

At the lower part of said handle gripping portion 18 is a long slot 28 that extends upwardly and which enables the user to hang this handle on the side of a pail or elsewhere. At the lower extremity of said slot 28 a hook portion 30 is provided in said handle by which the latter can also be hung and which is convenient to hang my handle on a wire or string to permit paint drippings to fall into a paint pail.

In Fig. 3 of the drawing my handle is shown with two finger holes only, the upper one 34 being for the index finger, and the other hole 36, which is below and part of it slightly rearward of said hole 34, serving to receive the second or long finger. Below, and extending rearwardly of, said hole 36 is a recessed finger portion 40 that provides a rest for the third or ring finger. To the rear of the latter, and farther downwardly therefrom, is a relatively shallow recess 42 that provides a rest for the fourth or little finger. This handle is suitable for a smaller size paint brush than that shown in Fig. 1.

Since my handle will usually be about inch thick, it can be held in the fingers in the usual, conventional way, if desired. In that event said rear extension portion 20 helps the palm of the hand to maintain a comfortable holding position.

What 1 claim is:

1. A handle for brushes comprising a front attaching portion, bristles attached thereto and extending forwardly thereof, said handle having an upper hole, another hole below and extending rearwardly of said upper hole, and a lower hole below and extending rearwardly of said other hole, said handle having a recessed finger portion rearwardly of said lower hole, a gripping portion rearwardly of said holes that extends to and forms a rear extremity portion of said handle, a rear extension portion above and extending rearwardly of said gripping portion, said handle having another recessed portion between said rear extension portion and said attaching portion and forming an upper extremity portion thereof, said handle having a slot therein rearwardly of said re cessed finger portion and forwardly of the rear extremity of said handle, and a forwardly extending hook portion in said handle at the lower end of said slot.

2. A handle for paint brushes comprising a front attaching portion, bristles attached thereto and extending forwardly thereof, said handle having only two holes to receive fingers rearwardly of said attaching portion and spaced vertically apart, an open, recessed finger portion extending below and rearwardly of said holes at a lower extremity of said handle, another recessed finger portion below and extending rearwardly of said holes and firstmentioned finger portion, and a gripping portion rearwardly of said holes that forms a rear extremity portion of said handle.

3. A handle for paint brushes comprising a front attaching portion, bristles attached thereto and extending forwardly thereof, said handle having three holes to receive fingers rearwardly of said attaching portion and vertically spaced from each other, the lowest of said holes extending rearwardly of the other two said holes, a gripping portion rearwardly of all said holes that forms a rear extremity portion of said handle, said handle having a recessed finger portion extending rearwardly of all said holes and forward of said gripping portion, and forming a portion of the lower extremity of said handle.

4. A handle for paint brushes comprising a front attaching portion, bristles attached thereto and extending forwardly thereof, said handle having three holes to receive fingers rearwardly of said attaching portion and vertically spaced from each other, the lowest of said holes extending rearwardlyof the other two said holes, a gripping portion rearwardly of all said holes that forms a rear extremity portion of said handle, said handle having a recessed finger portion extending rearwardly of all said holes and forward of said gripping portion, and forming a portionof the lower extremity of said handle, said gripping portion having a recessed portion at the upper part thereof, rearwardly opposite said attaching portion and bristles and forming an upper extremity portion of said handle.

5. A handle for paint brushes comprising a front attaching portion, bristles attached thereto and extending forwardly thereof, said handle having three separate holes to receive fingers rearwardly of said attaching portion and vertically spaced from each other, the intermediate of said holes extending rearwardly of the upper said hole, and the lowest of said holes extending rearwardly of the other two said holes, and a gripping portion rearwardly of all said holes that forms a rear extremity portion of said handle, a portion of which gripping portion is rearwardly opposite said bristles.

6. A handle for paint brushes comprising a front attaching portion, bristles attached thereto and extending forwardly thereof, said handle having an upper hole, another hole below and extending rearwardly of said upper hole, and a lower hole below and extending rearwardly of said other hole, said handle having a recessed finger portion rearwardly of said lower hole, a gripping portion rearwardly of all said holes and finger portion that extends to and forms a rear extremity portion of said handle, and a rear extension portion above and extending rearwardly of said gripping portion, said handle having another recessed portion between said rear extension portion and said attaching portion and forming an upper extremity portion thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 169,673 Horton May 26, 1953 D. 173,691 Abrahamsen Dec. 21, 1954 132,258 Dietrich Oct. 15, 1872 157,634 Reagan Dec. 8, 1874 472,006 Walker et al. Mar. 29, 1892 829,353 Rand Aug. 21, 1906 1,429,549 Tjenall Sept. 19, 1922 FOREIGN PATENTS 689,059 Great Britain Mar. 18, 1953 

